Free e-cigs: Aussie outrage at United Kingdom’s ‘swap to stop’ smoking scheme

Australian experts have slammed a new policy they fear will only lead to a new generation of nicotine addicts. See the radical plan.

There are calls for a complete ban on vapes as class action lawyers warn people crippled by lung injuries caused by e-cigarettes could sue the manufacturers for compensation.

“People are falling ill in the US with lung conditions, so potentially people in Australia are heading in the same direction. Unfortunately, we may potentially start to see a rush of injury and illness claims as a result of vaping,” Slater and Gordon Head of National Public Liability Lily Boskovski said.

The call for the ban comes as the UK health minster announced a policy to provide free vapes to cigarette smokers to help them quit the habit.

Australia has rejected this approach as state and federal health ministers undertake a major review of the illegal supply of vapes here where they are a prescription only product.

Slater and Gordon is calling for an across-the-board ban on non-prescription vaping products in Australia.

It also wants stronger enforcement on the importation of illegal vaping products and an urgent crackdown on their sale across all states and territories.

“Regardless of the amount of nicotine contained in the device, e-cigarettes can contain a harmful cocktail of chemicals and they are increasingly causing alarming illnesses and major health conditions,” Ms Boskovski said.

“This is particularly concerning when we see the shameless targeting of children by e-cigarette manufacturers,” she said.

“We are in danger of history repeating. We have already seen how Big Tobacco will do everything it can to target young people and downplay the health risks of their products. This risk to our next generation is now compounded by the tactics of some of the least ethical online operators who are systematically targeting children and teenagers,” she said.

EXPERTS SLAM ‘SWAP TO STOP’ FREE VAPE CAMPAIGN

Australian experts have slammed a new UK policy to give away one million free vaping kits to encourage smokers to swap cigarettes for e-cigarettes under a radical “swap to stop” program.

Australia’s Health Minister Mark Butler declared the “Australian Government is not considering a “swap to stop” program”.

“The tobacco industry has found a new way to develop a generation of nicotine addicts and we will not stand for it,” he said.

The UK government will offer vape starter kits to almost one in five of all smokers in England under a push to make the nation “smoke free” by 2030.

The United Kingdom is encouraging smokers to take up vaping instead of cigarettes to help them quit smoking.

Pregnant women will also be offered up to £400 (A$745) to stop smoking and a consultation will be launched on introducing mandatory advice on quitting smoking to be placed in cigarette packs.

“I’m aware the UK has announced a range of different initiatives to reduce smoking and vaping consumption,” Mr Butler said noting the UK had four million more smokers than Australia.

“Health ministers are determined to take strong action about the explosion of illegal vaping in Australia and stamp out this menace,” he said.

AMA president professor Steve Robson. Picture: Supplied

Australian Medical Association president Professor Steve Robson said “there’s limited evidence for the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking cessation tool, but there’s ample evidence of the harms from vaping. Vaping to stop smoking should be a last resort and should only occur under the care of a GP.”

An Australian National University study published earlier this year found far from helping people quit smoking young non-smokers who use e-cigarettes are about three times as likely to go on to smoke regular cigarettes compared with young people who did not use e-cigarettes.

Most people who quit smoking successfully did not use any specific products, the review published in the Medical Journal of Australia found.

The UK’s new ‘swap to stop’ smoking scheme is part of a push to make the nation “smoke free”. Picture: Getty Images

The Australian Government asked the nation’s medicines watchdog the Therapeutic Goods Administration to review Australia’s vaping rules and health minsters are planning a major policy overhaul.

Australia is the only jurisdiction to implement a prescription model for e-cigarettes, from 1 October 2021 all nicotine vaping products became prescription only medicines to be used to help people quit smoking.

Nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, gums and lozenges and other smoking cessation medications are subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

UK Health Minister Neil O'Brien.

UK Health Minister Neil O’Brien is expected to launch the “swap to stop” scheme in the UK on Tuesday (local time), which has been touted as a world-first and is estimated to cost about £45 million (A$83.7m) over two years.

It is understood the government will work with councils to offer one million smokers across England a free vaping starter kit. Smokers will likely be offered a choice of products, strengths and flavours.

Originally published as Free e-cigs: Aussie outrage at United Kingdom’s ‘swap to stop’ smoking scheme